The majority of the ancient Israelites separated from Judah and created their own Kingdom of Israel. The northern Ten Tribes were exiled and lost consciousness of their ancestry. We trace them to Western Nations. Today there is an arousal in countries where Descendants of Israel from the Ten Tribes are to be found . There are those who are drawn to Judaism and Jewish consciousness and to the Jewish origins of Christianity which they feel should be reflected in their religious practices. Many are becoming aware of their own Israelite Ancestry. For some this new awareness is partly rational and based on objective studies such as those of Brit-Am/Hebrew nations. For others it is an emotional and spiritual awareness. They feel Hebrew. They believe they are descended from Israelites from the Ten Tribes of Israel. This is distinct from Judaism. The Jews are Israelites but not all Israelites are Jewish. Descendants of the Ten Tribes are not against Jews, on the contrary. They wish however to be identified as Israelites and not as Jews. We have discussed one aspect of this phenomenon in our article. Terminology. Are the Terms Jewish and Judaism Prejudicial Towards the Ten Tribes? http://hebrewnations.com/articles/jew/terms.html

2. The Term "Joes" and Keeping the Commandments

Let us refer here to those who identify as descendants of the Ten Tribes as "Joes" after Joseph whose descendants played a major role in the northern Kingdom of Israel. Many Joes feel they should keep the commandments as commanded in the Bible. They also often wish to come now and live in the State of Israel. The two phenomenon are linked.

Concerning coming now to live in Israel we have written numerous replies and articles on this subject.

As for keeping the Commandments: In principle its a free country and one can do what one wishes. But should you do so? Should you keep the commandments? And if so, how should you keep them?

3. Rabbinical Authority from the Time of Moses

The How of Keeping the Commandments was given over to the Sages:

Deuteronomy 17: 8 If a judicial decision is too difficult for you to make between one kind of bloodshed and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another any such matters of dispute in your towns then you shall immediately go up to the place that the Lord your God will choose, 9 where you shall consult with the levitical priests and the judge who is in office in those days; they shall announce to you the decision in the case. 10 Carry out exactly the decision that they announce to you from the place that the Lord will choose, diligently observing everything they instruct you. 11You must carry out fully the law that they interpret for you or the ruling that they announce to you; do not turn aside from the decision that they announce to you, either to the right or to the left. 12 As for anyone who presumes to disobey the priest appointed to minister there to the Lord your God, or the judge, that person shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel. 13 All the people will hear and be afraid, and will not act presumptuously again.

Moses appointed 70 elders who were to help him decide matters of Law. The authority given to the elders continued from generation to generation, and from Rabbi to Rabbi, right down to our time.

Numbers 11: 16 The Lord therefore said to Moses, 'Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. 17 'Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the spirit which is upon you, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not bear it all alone.

Jews Keep the Law : The Jews kept the Law as it had been prophesied that Judah would:

Genesis 49: 8 'Judah, your brothers shall acknowledge you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down before you. 9 Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches down, he stretches out like a lion, like a mature lion - who dares rouse him up? 10 The Sceptre [Shevet, i.e. Sign of Tribal Identity] shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver [Hebrew: MeChokak] from between his feet, until Shiloh [ He to Whom it Belongs] and the ingathgering of the peoples will be to him.

Zechariah 8: 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from nations of every language shall take hold of a Jew, grasping his garment and saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'

5. The Joes left the Law of their own Free Will!

Scripture says that Ephraim was to go away from the Torah while Judah would remain faithful

Hosea 11: 12 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God, and is faithful to the holy ones.

The Bible does not say that the Ten Tribes should not keep the Law. It says they would not do so and forget it and forget who they are.In order to Keep the Law in the fullest possible way in our time one must also be certain that one is descended from Israel with a certainty that would be accepted in a court of law and not just emanate from an inner conviction.

The Ten Tribes NEED Brit-Am/Hebrew nations and they need Judah. At present very few of them seem to acknowledge this.

6. What Should be Done Now?

In future the Ten Tribes are destined to re-unite with Judah. The religious conundrum will be solved. What is the individual "Joe" expected to do until then?

Each one of us needs to find their own path according to what we are. We need to walk with God. To believe in the Bible and study it.

Personally, I do not believe in Christianity. My understanding of Scripture however indicates that Christianity is a tool used by Divine Providence to bring the Ten Tribes back. There are some things we do not understand. We do not have to understand everything. Aspects of mainstream Christian Belief would be considered as idolatry for a Jew to hold them. Non-Jews however are not expected to hold the same standards. It is not idolatry for non-Jews to believe in Christianity. Maybe this is what they should do, if they are already doing it anyway? [It is however an idolatrous offence for Christians to try and missionize Jews.]

Let us reach out to the Almighty to lead us in the way we need to go in.

7. Conclusion. Brit-Am/Hebrew Nations is a Step in the Right Direction.

Non-Jews from Western Nations who believe they descend from the Ten Tribes often feel a need to keep the Commandments that were originally given to ALL Israelites. They do not necessarily want to be Jews. Even if they do wish to convert to Judaism the Jews would not hurry to accept them. Trying to Keep the Torah as commanded without accepting Rabbinical Authority is hoodwinking oneself. We must all own up to the Truth. Every one of us has their own individual road to travel. Let us do what we can and the Almighty will show us the way. Brit-Am/Hebrew Nations holds that the Ten Tribes are amongst Western Peoples. We prove it from the Bible, Rabbinical and Secular Sources. We also believe in enhancing Biblical Consciousness and Knowledge of the Bible. We do all this from a Jewish perspective without, on the whole, causing fiction with adherents of Christian religions. It can be done. This is a Step in the Right Direction. We should strive to increase knowledge of the Ten Tribes, improve our appreciation of it, and make it more known. This should be accompanied by greater involvement with Scripture. God willing, through these means, the way forward shall be made clear.

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The "KHAZARS" were a semi-nomadic people who became prominent in southern Russia and its neighborhood in the 600s to 900s CE. They were quite powerful with a far-reaching influence and well-developed civilization.

The Blessings in the Bible given to the Children of Israel were epitomized most strongly in the Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Ephraim dominates Britain and her daughters, Manasseh is pre-eminent in the USA.

Chosen People
The Ancient Celts and related peoples referred to themselves as Hebrews.The inhabitants of Britain pertained mainly to clans belonging to Joseph. The Jews need to believe in the God of Israel and keep the Torah.